The aim
of the meeting will be to provide a forum for the presentation and discussion
of recent developments in understanding the linkages that operate through a
catchment system, so that the delivery of sediment from its source on hillslopes
through to a catchment outlet can be better understood. In so doing, the aim
of the meeting will contribute to the COST 623 Workgroup 1 on "Linking
processes across temporal and spatial scales". It is anticipated that issues
of spatial and temporal scaling of processes and parameter measurements will
be addressed at the meeting. Participants will be invited to present papers,
but specific time will be set aside for workshop discussions of the issues raised.
There will also be an associated field trip to evaluate some of the issues raised
in a field context.

The meeting
will develop along five major themes:

Linking slope and
channel processes  issues relating to the understanding of the processes
which affect sediment delivery from hillslopes into channels. These linkages
may relate to topographic form or hydrological processes, for example.

Linking slope and
channel measurements  how direct and indirect measurements can be
made to quantify the fluxes of sediment from the hillslope system.

The rôle of the floodplain
 the effects of the presence or absence of a floodplain on the transfer
of water and sediments.

Long time-scale perspectives
 the dynamics of catchment systems over long time periods as a means
of evaluating our understanding of the effects of process for periods which
extend beyond instrumental records.

Modelling and parameter
scaling  the development of erosion models which work at catchment
scales or at a variety of scales; issues relating to the parameterization
and testing of such models.

The location
of the meeting will be the Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, CSIC, Almería.
Further details of location and accommodation will be provided later. There
is limited support available for EU scientists wishing to attend.

Deadline
for submission of abstracts is 31st March 2000. Please contact John
Wainwright by e-mail, fax (+44 20 7848 2287) or post if you are interested in
presenting a paper or poster at the meeting.